Some of the year's biggest fights shift to free TV. While pay-per-view will always be the cash cow, the UFC boosts the quality and depth of its cards on Fox .

One top regional promotion - Legacy FC, XFC, RFA, Invicta FC or a similarly positioned fight organization - takes the spot vacated by the UFC-owned Strikeforce and thrives on Showtime.

NASCAR

Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins multiple races, make the Chase for the Sprint Cup and finally win the championship.

Drivers follows in Brad Keselowski's Twitter footsteps, pushing the envelope in social media interaction with fans. Clint Bowyer is the first to get fined by NASCAR for inappropriate tweets.

Danica Patrick wins a Nationwide race, but not a Sprint Cup race in her full-time debut on that series.

NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant wins his first MVP award.

Center Dwight Howard weighs his options, including joining the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets or Atlanta Hawks, before signing with with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Washington Wizards win the top pick in the NBA draft and select Kentucky center Nerlens Noel.

NHL

Owners and players reach an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement that will save a partial season.

Seth Jones, the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, is the first African American to be selected No. 1 overall in the draft.

Brendan Shanahan steps down as the NHL's discipline czar to become president and/or general manager of an NHL team.

NFL

With the first pick in the draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select Geno Smith, quarterback, West Virginia. Many will argue that a player who dropped out of the Heisman Trophy race isn't worthy of being picked No. 1 overall. But the success of the 2012 rookie quarterback crop will help his stock.

The Philadelphia Eagles try to lure Chip Kelly to replace Andy Reid, but the Oregon coach chooses to stay on the West Coast and take the San Diego Chargers job.

Brian Urlacher, Ed Reed and Tony Gonzalez retire, while Ray Lewis returns for an 18th season with the Baltimore Ravens.

Tennis

Serena Williams adds two majors, upping her career total to 17, one short of Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.

Rafael Nadal comes back strong - he hasn't played an official match since Wimbledon - adding his eighth French Open crown and his third Wimbledon title.

The U.S. men's record drought at majors, at 36 in a row, continues. INo American man will even reach a major quarterfinal.